The Coimbatore Corporation removed some shops from a reserved site at Brindavan Colony at Uppilipalayam in the city on Friday, as part of its drive to retrieve public purpose sites from encroachers.

Officials of the special squad of the Corporation carried out the encroachment removal. Assistant Town Planning Officer S. Ravichandran said a few petty shops, a chicken stall and a gymnasium had come upon 13.26 cents of a reserved site earmarked for a playground. (Ten per cent of the total residential layout area should be set aside as reserved/public purpose site and handed over to the local body concerned).

The Corporation squad removed the structures and created more space for the nearby bus stop. The encroachments led to congestion at the stop, the official said.

On whether the drive would be sustained across the city, he said Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra had ordered that a close watch must be kept on all the reserved sites. The aim was to not only retrieve sites already encroached but also to prevent fresh encroachments on these.

“The one at Brindavan Colony was encroached upon despite the Corporation having put up a board that clearly stated that the land belonged to the local body,” Mr. Ravichandran said.

The Corporation had received complaints from the public against the unauthorised structures.